Infinite Harvest Reinvents Vegetable Crop Production with Innovative Agricultural Systems

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Company Responds to Need for More Sustainable Methods of Food Production

Infinite Harvest, a Colorado-based company, today unveiled its plans to develop vertical farming as a sustainable source of competitively priced natural health food.

"Infinite Harvest is integrating technologies and developing new methods to make agriculture a more efficient, environmentally sound way of producing high quality vegetables for local markets,” commented Tommy Romano, Founder of Infinite Harvest. “The world is currently facing many food security issues and with substantial population growth, changing environments, and natural disasters, these issues will become more compounded.”

Food insecurity is on the increase, due to residential and commercial property development, adverse farming practices, and environmental and climate changes. Therefore, it will become imperative to find more efficient ways of producing fresh food, and Infinite Harvest is emerging as a leader in developing new systems based on vertical farming.

One of Infinite Harvest’s systems is a greenhouse facility, which is environmentally controlled and contained within a warehouse type structure. These efficient greenhouses can be constructed nearly everywhere in the world and can operate in almost any environment, in turn, producing fresh vegetables. Future plans will allow other crops to be grown in the system such as animal feeds and bio-fuel base products.

Built inside a recycled 40-foot shipping container, the company’s transportable greenhouse system can be shipped worldwide. Based on green building designs and using renewable energy systems, high-efficiency grow lighting, a semi-closed automatic irrigation and production system, the greenhouse container can grow crops year-round, regardless of the outside environment. Production source water, seeds, and water-soluble plant nutrients are all that is needed to begin crop production. This system also delivers the immediate capacity to begin farming in locations where traditional crop production is not viable due to climate, natural disaster, or lack of water and resources.

“Each greenhouse container operates as a controlled environment and can produce between 200 to 2,400 plants at one time, depending on the type of crop,” said Romano. “By using only 20% of the water used in traditional farming and implementing regenerative technologies, the container can operate for long periods on minimal water. This is an ideal solution where food production is difficult, especially in remote, desolate areas and disaster recovery zones.”

There are many adverse effects occurring on our agriculture, and most are a direct consequence of our own existence. We can no longer uphold the growing population without a sustainable solution. Re-engineering the science of vegetable crop production, Infinite Harvest provides solutions through its innovative agricultural systems, based on vertical farming. Infinite Harvest is a culmination of technology, understanding, and balance to produce healthier food in limitless amounts with nearly zero to no adverse impact to the environment, enabling crops to grow indefinitely while benefiting the environment. Seeing itself as a steward of the earth, Infinite Harvest strives to produce sustainable food crops, while benefiting our health, the soil we walk on, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. For more information, visit www.infinite-harvest.com.

Beacon Youth and Family Center Closes its Doors

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Englewood, Colorado -- After 42 years of providing mental health care services to children and families in the Denver community, Beacon Youth and Family Center will close its doors and cease operation on April 30, 2011.

Beacon Center has built a legacy on providing comprehensive mental health treatment for children and families. Services have included residential care, crisis care, hospital diversion, hospital step-down, drug and alcohol treatment, community based therapy, respite care and day treatment. Since its inception in 1969, Beacon Center has provided these vital services to over 15,000 children and their families.

"It has been an honor for Beacon Center to have served so many Colorado children and families over the years. We believe in our mission, and sincerely hope that the demise of our programs doesn't mean kids don't have access to treatment. It has also been a privilege to work with so many remarkable people who share our commitment -- staff, board members, Cherish the Children Guild, donors, and members of the community who have given of themselves to support our children's mental health needs," said Michael Guthrie, Executive Director.

Unfortunately, many factors have contributed to the difficult decision for Beacon Center to close. A dramatic decrease in referrals for the mid-level (non-locked, non-restraint) care that Beacon Center provides played a significant role in this decision. With smaller budgets for counties, state and federal government, and other referral sources, this level of care is simply not being utilized at its capacity. This decline in referrals has led to a steady decline in revenue.

The President of Beacon Center's Board of Directors, Georgianna Contiguglia, stated "We recognize that Beacon Center is just a small piece of a much larger story. The fact is, the huge drop in referrals to programs like ours is not because all the kids got well. We are surrounded by evidence of the needs for mental health care, yet agencies like Beacon Center continue to close in Colorado. Clearly, there are bigger economic issues at play, and I am heartbroken that we, as a society, are not willing or able to support the treatment needs of our own children. My hope is that our decision as a society to provide needed care for those with mental illnesses doesn't happen after all the capacity has disappeared." As the need for mental health care continues to exist, so does the need for education, advocacy and accessibility to services.

Beacon Center has received support over the years from many committed foundations and individuals. We are most grateful to the Cherish the Children Guild, an auxiliary of Beacon Center was chartered in 1999 to raise funds necessary to allow us to serve families in need. Guild Founder and President Emeritus, Annabel Bowlen, along with many other dedicated supporters have raised millions of dollars over the years at the annual Cherish the Children Gala.

"It brings great sadness to me and the members of the Cherish the Children Guild that the Beacon Center will no longer be able to continue the wonderful work that they have done for the last 40 years. They have reached out and given special love and care to numerous adolescents and their families. They have also been a source of strength to many. I would like to thank the members of the Guild for the tremendous work, love and care they have given to this amazing charity. The Beacon Center will always have a special place in my heart, as well as, the many Guild members who dedicated their time and incredible efforts," said Annabel Bowlen, Cherish the Children Guild Founder.

Thursday on Thirty-Third

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Located in Denver’s burgeoning LoHi neighborhood, the businesses of 1930 & 1932 W. 33rd Ave. cordially invite you to a business open house, featuring the following companies:

American Liberty Mortgage, Inc.
Oogie’s Gourmet Popcorn
Allstate
Sienna National Title Agency
LifePoint Strategies
Sprout Strategy
Happy Cakes Bakeshop
Guttau PR
Ripen Solutions

Thursday, April 7 · 5:30pm - 7:30pm
1930 & 1932 W. 33rd Ave., Denver, CO


For more information, e-mail Jim at Guttau PR: jimguttau@msn.com

Knowing Kidney Score Could Save Lives

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(DENVER, CO) March 6, 2011—While most Americans can recite their cholesterol numbers and know their personal risk for heart disease, few have any idea if their kidneys are performing their job properly. Yet there is actually a test that measures kidney function, and since kidney disease can be silent without any symptoms, it's important to know the kidney score, according to the National Kidney Foundation. March is National Kidney Month, March 10 is World Kidney Day, and the National Kidney Foundation urges residents of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming to get their kidneys checked.

Healthy kidneys that work at 100% capacity regulate blood pressure, filter wastes and toxins from the blood and help maintain strong bones.

"In order to measure how well the kidneys are functioning, doctors perform the glomerular filtration rate—or GFR test. GFR is calculated from the results of a blood test for creatinine or buildup of waste products, as well as age, race, gender and other factors. The earlier kidney disease is detected, the better the chance of slowing or stopping its progression. In other words, knowing your GFR can save your life," says Kathy Wegner, Regional Vice President, National Kidney Foundation Serving Colorado, Montana and Wyoming.

“Anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of either of these conditions or kidney disease is at risk for developing kidney disease and must get his GFR checked on a yearly basis,” continues Wegner. “It’s a relatively easy test to perform."

According to Wegner, it’s also important to have a simple urine test to check for a type of protein called albumin, since protein in the urine is an early indicator of kidney disease.

What the Numbers Mean

It may sound complicated, but understanding GFR results is as easy as knowing a number and what it signifies in terms of kidney function. If GFR is over 90, the kidneys are healthy and functioning normally. A kidney score of 60-89 means the person should be monitored, and if GFR scores falls to less than 60 for a three-month period, that is an indicator of chronic kidney disease.

More than 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, and most don’t know it. More than 381,000 depend on dialysis to treat kidney failure and every two hours, somebody dies while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.

The National Kidney Foundation Serving Colorado, Montana and Wyoming offers free screening through its Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) for those at risk for kidney disease. For more information on upcoming screenings or GFR, visit www.kidneycmw.org or call 720-748-9991.

LIFEPOINT STRATEGIES CELEBRATES THE ADDITION OF NEW CLIENTS, A NEW HIGHLANDS OFFICE, AND A NEW EMPLOYEE

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LifePoint Strategies, a training and consulting company led by Terri Starck that specializes in working with small business owners to discover their passion, identify their strengths, and reach their true potential, announced today the addition of three new clients, a new office location (1930 West 33rd Ave., Denver), and the addition of a new employee. LifePoint’s new clients are:

• Dr. Lee Weisbard, DDS—Weisbard Dental: This high-end dentistry offers a full range of cosmetic, general and implant services to address most dental issues. Weisbard Dental improves the health and smile of their patients based on a complete evaluation, which addresses both short-term and long-term dental wellness. www.weisbarddental.com
• Jo Brilhart and Margaret Wilson—Equine Discoveries: This coaching and training organization helps patients with self discovery, grief, loss, life transitions, trauma, leadership, empowerment and team building skills using horses as a therapeutic approach to healing. www.equinediscoveries.com
• Lyle Phetteplace—Renaissance Adventure Guides: A travel company that strives to offer its clients high-quality adventure training and travel experiences in the areas of kayaking, trekking, rafting, snow skills and multi-sport activities.www.raguides.com

“We are extremely excited to be able to grow and work with these three diverse and talented group of new clients,” said Terri Starck, founder of LifePoint Strategies. “With our new location in the Highlands and this new roster of clients, we are confident that this year will be an epic example of teamwork and business growth. We are looking forward to begin tackling these hurdles with our clients head-on and conquering their dreams along with them.”

To assist with this growth for LifePoint Strategies, Mo Hofmann has been hired as a Business Strategist for the company to help clients reach and plan their individual goals Hofmann is a dynamic business professional with a proven track record in training, facilitation, project implementation, marketing, sales, and customer service.

“Mo has the ability to quickly evoke trust and creative collaboration among individuals and teams and has the ability to assess situations and come up with realistic solutions,” said Terri Starck. “Her expertise is in collaborating with clients to identify, recommend, and implement solutions to maximize performance and is highly focused on helping clients thrive, and we are eager to have her begin to work with our new clients, as well as former ones.”

Terri Starck, the founder of LifePoint Strategies, brings 20 years of experience to business consulting including: starting and running her own successful business, directing leaders, training large and small groups, strategic planning and calendaring, computer programming and training. She also has a record of accomplishment in coordinating and planning large strategic events. Her varied experience gives her the skill to tackle the diverse businesses she currently serves. Terri’s strategies enable clients to implement their professional vision and all the while living Life with a Point. For more information about the firm and its results, visit www.lifepointstrategies.com.

Thermal Clean Adopts Canine Bed Bug Specialist

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(DENVER, CO) February 28, 2010—In addition to acquiring a new family pet, Thermal Clean President Brad Steinmetz decided to provide his company, which specializes in the elimination of bed bugs and other pests, with some expert canine help.

Bedbug-sniffing dogs are an adorable and accurate way to identify infestations within a space. In fact, entomology researchers at the University of Florida report that dogs that are well trained can detect a single live bug or egg with 96 percent accuracy. In adopting an unwanted dog and making him not only a prized household addition, but also a valuable asset at work, Steinmetz has helped a Rat Terrier named Levi find a new home and valuable purpose.

Here is Brad in his own words:

“I purchased Levi from a trainer who rescues neglected and unwanted dogs from places like Craigslist, veterinary offices, and animal shelters. Levi was living with a family in Kansas City who neglected him in numerous ways. The biggest problem was they would leave him outside with only a four foot fence. He would jump over this fence often and always headed to a nearby veterinary office, where as he probably knew, he was regularly fed. After this happened five or six times, the veterinarian finally told the owners they were not going to return Levi to them if it happened again. When it happened again, the veterinarian called the trainer knowing they were always looking for this type of dog. I wanted to surprise my three kids with the dog, so when I went to pick up Levi, my kids thought I was gone for the week picking up more equipment---which in a way, I was.

Levi has been with my family now for over two months and has not only become an integral part of our family, but a great addition to my business. He comes to work with me every day and loves riding in the passenger seat of my truck. In my business, the use of a dog is really more about prevention than elimination. I use him to inspect spaces prior to treating units. Besides being a great co-worker, Levi has proven to be a loving pet and adorable friend.”

Watching these lovable pets at work, clawing and barking when they determine that there are bed bugs present is not only interesting, but heart-warming. However, these canines are also serious professionals as well. They are thoroughly trained to alert their handlers and are educated to the specific scent of these small pests.

In addition, not only are the dogs effective, but the use of the dogs also speeds up the inspection process. For example, a bed bug dog can search an average hotel or resident’s room in a matter of minutes. Once the infestation has been found, the elimination of the bed bugs can be started, producing a faster result with less cost to the consumer or the business.

To learn more about Thermal Clean and what services can assist you with your bed bug or pest needs, visit www.thermal-clean.com.

About Thermal Clean
The bed bug epidemic has generated an enormous amount of media coverage and awareness, which, in turn, created the need for an effective solution for Colorado’s Front Range. Thermal Clean knows firsthand the importance of discreet and swift elimination of bed bugs. As the only provider of Insect Inferno, a mobile insect elimination system, the company also offers regularly scheduled inspections, an on-site bed bug heat treatment process, and a “bedbug dog” that can pinpoint areas of infestation. Visit http://thermal-clean.com.